As a woman, a lesbian and an older person in our society I experience discrimination on all three fronts. Queer Before Queer, is a series of collaged portraits of older butch lesbians, paying homage to those who have pioneered the gender-queer present. I was moved to make this work after encountering dismissive looks from younger people. Throughout my life I have contended with being marginalized as a queer woman. Aging adds a layer to that displacement.
InQueer Before Queer, Ihonor the guts it takes to live one’s entire life outside the gendered margins--identities that are not trans and not femme, but somewhere along the spectrum. These intimate portraits of an older butch lesbians lay bare the fierce determination that informs the contours of their lifelong queer existence. My intention is to have others see what I see…fierce women who are still a force to be reckoned with even with physical signs of age.